Annan appointee to focus on Burundi crisis

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appointed Berhanu Dinka as his Special Representative for the Great Lakes “to raise the profile of the UN within the international community’s efforts to address the deteriorating situation in Burundi,” a press released stated on Tuesday. Dinka, who was most recently been the Secretary-General’s Representative and Regional Humanitarian Adviser for the Great Lakes region, would represent Annan at the Burundi peace talks in Arusha, which were expected to be reinvigorated by the facilitation of former South African president Nelson Mandela, the statement said. Dinka would also address “regional dimensions of the conflict in the DRC” through “close interaction” with Kamel Morjane, Annan’s Special Representative to the DRC. In addition, he would “sound out the countries in the region” on the organisation of an international conference on the Great Lakes, the press release said.